Teru Teru Bozu - Rain Stopping Ghost

It's been raining a "Noah's flood" here all morning and I thought that I should hang my "Teru Teru Bozu" (amulet that supposed to have magical powers) to bring good weather and to stop a rainy day.

While I was in Japan, the children and farmer there traditionally hang these in a window frame when they wanted the next day to have good weather. Teru Teru Bozu also can be hung upside down if you want it to rain tomorrow. They are actually just a paper dolls made of white paper or cloth  hanging outside of their window by a string .They are still a very common sight in Japan.Remember - make sure that you hang the Teru Teru Bozu upright otherwise it will bring more rain :)

My own version (super ugly) Teru Teru Bozu :(

As for me, there's no cure for this obsession...

Teru-teru-bozu, teru bozu
Do make tomorrow a sunny day
Like the sky in a dream sometime
If it's sunny I'll give you a golden bell

Teru-teru-bozu, teru bozu
Do make tomorrow a sunny day
If you make my wish come true
We'll drink lots of sweet rice wine

Teru-teru-bozu, teru bozu
Do make tomorrow a sunny day
But if the clouds are crying (it's raining)
Then I shall snip your head off...:(

Exploring Bokeh: The Place Beyond the Pines

Did anyone ever tell you that you need a f/1.4 lens to get great bokeh ? Crap !!

 Below shot taken during my off day tour at Tanjung Rhu ( Cape Of Pines ) at an aperture of f/8 at a focal length of 50mm and still it’s plenty creamy! The word “bokeh” comes from the Japanese word “boke” (pronounced bo-keh) which literally means fuzziness or dizziness

 Bokeh is all about the relationship between the distance you are from something the focal length of your lens and the aperture of the lens, it’s that trinity of circumstances that leads to nice background blur. 

Nikon D3000 + 50mm f/1.8G — ¹/800 sec, f/8, ISO 200

Another simple way to create a beautiful bokeh effect is to deliberately blur the background to result in a qualitative representation of out-of-focus area. This shot is the one out of all of them that I think is my favorite shot from the day :)

 Nikon D3000 + 50mm f/1.8G — ¹/800 sec, f/8, ISO 200

Here is another post at Tanjung Rhu (moments of inspiration) while listening to Miniature Garden song by Kaori Kawamura (RIP dear) through my iphone. 

Nikon D3000+ 50mm f/1.8G — ¹/1000 sec, f/20, ISO 200

Well, thats it for now, I am going to try to post regularly but that will all be played by ear. 

*********

And suddenly, I was thinking about the late Kaori Kawamura :(
Naomi told me that Kaori had passed away from the disease (Breast cancer) in Tokyo in 2009, aged 38.

Google Image

Kaori Kawamura (January 23, 1971 – July 28, 2009). 
The real "Teru Teru Bozu" in the blockbuster drama  "With Love".

網絡的情人 @ MINIATURE GARDEN

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A Pro Camera Wont Make You A Pro Photographer.

I have yet to meet anyone who hasn't expressed at least once in their lifetime, "Where did all the time go"? For me,writting this blog has been a real eye opener in many respects, in particular in making me suddenly aware of where all the time did actually go.More than 25 years have passed since that fateful day when my father placed a camera in my hands.If nothing else,this sudden awareness of time is proof that passion is truly great,invisible time keeper.I know that the calendar tells me I'm 34,but it is in marked contrast to what my "9 " years old heart still feels today...that every day is a photographic opportunity !!!

By the way, here is few photos taken during my early days in photography :)

Although, all the images was poor in depth of field, aperture and composition but still not bad huh ? 

Taken at the time when I dont know anything about photography 1. 

Taken at the time when I dont know anything about photography (Part 11) 

Taken at the time when I  know nothing about photography (Part 111) 

Moral of the story: A pro camera wont make you a pro photographer no matter what the guy at the camera store tells you. You need to learn..learn..and learn ! :)

The Sand Castle Girl : Erika Sakane

We have been swimming in the coastal areas of Tanjung Rhu, Langkawi several times in a year as the water there is clean and clear. Langkawi Island can be very hot and humid in the summer, so swimming can be a great weekend gathering for friends and family.

By the way, Tanjung Rhu beach was quite a small beach and the water got deep a few feet out and also shallow enough by the shore for the kids to play.Erika was seen busy filling her bucket with sand so she could build her own sand castle. Probably she was inspired  after too much watching  Laputa : Castle In The Sky ( 天空の城ラピュタ  ) movie from Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki ! 

Discover Lubuk Sembilang's Enchanting And Lush Waterfalls !

During yesterday's trip into the woods of Lubuk Sembilang Waterfall, we came across the small stream at remote area  at the end of a dead road that branches off from another dead-end road. There are many beautiful trails and creeks that lead to them and honestly, I could have spent an hour just exploring these area.

Here are few shots from the trip........

 Nikon D3000 + Nikkor 35-80mm f/5.6D— ¹/20 sec, f/8, ISO 200

  Nikon D3000 + Nikkor 35-80mm f/5.6 — ¹/20 sec, f/8, ISO 200

  Nikon D3000 + Nikkor 35-80mm f/5.6 — ¹/20 sec, f/8, ISO 200

  Nikon D3000 + Nikkor 35-80mm f/5.6 — ¹/20 sec, f/8, ISO 200

  Nikon D3000 + Nikkor 35-80mm f/5.6 — ¹/20 sec, f/8, ISO 200

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Interested parties are welcomed to reproduce or quote materials published in this blog with the condition  that they are credited to http://hasnulyakin.blogspot.com/ to avoid misunderstanding.Thank you


 

Into A Secretive World Of Geisha.

I just finished reading the true story - Geisha Of Gion within few hours and I was super obsessed with Geisha while reading the book. A story about Mineko encounters Madam Oima, the formidable proprietress of a prolific geisha house in Gion.

Madam Oima is mesmerized by the child's black hair and black eyes and she felt she has found her successor. And so Mineko is gently prised away from her parents to embark on an extraordinary profession of which she will become the best. This book also tells of Mineko's ascendancy to fame and her ultimate decision to leave the profession she found so constricting.

Geisha of Gion written by Mineko Iwasaki & Rande Brown.

Captivating, poignant and a fascinating insight into a secretive world of geisha.

 The book also reminds me of the time when I was in Gion, Japan during last winter. 

While walking along Gion street, be mindful of incoming vehicles as the narrow street allows vehicles to squeeze through.

Hanami-koji is a street lined with beautiful old wooden buildings, tea houses and restaurants.

This is the heart of the Gion found in the tourist books.

Geisha lifestyle should be received with nothing but respect !

Having seen them on my last venture to Japan, I was keen to return next spring and see them again in Gion.

Gion is the main entertainment district in Kyoto.It had developed as a shrine town of Yasaka Shrine since the 17th century.

Map Of Gion

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All rights reserved.

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Dirty Beaches - Money Cannot Buy Common Sense !

What happended to Langkawi Island ? The beaches has been completely transformed into dirty beaches and in terrible conditions during our last visit. There is litter and glass on the sand, plastic bags in the sea and no one dares to go in as they don't know what they will find!

Although Teluk Yu (Bay Of Sharks) is a beautiful and nice place, it could be even better if it was cleaner.

It's a catastrophe!

These photo was taken when we visited Teluk Yu, Langkawi (Bay Of Sharks) public beach on last week during Hari Raya holiday.Being a national public holiday, the beach was overcrowded with holidaymakers from all over the country resulting garbage is overflowing and there are even barbecue grills scattered all over the beach as well. I am very horrified to see what has taken place and in addition, wooden beach shelters,tiles and toilet were broken and filthy. A stupid mentality by the visitors and another evidence that money cannot buy common sense !!

Bay Of Sharks ( Teluk Yu) Monument.

Government spends quite a lot of money on beautification of the place and yet nobody really appreciated. You can't blame the Government for visitors throwing their rubbish everywhere in a society where no one cares about rubbish !!

I'm not an environmentalist but I'm an Earth warrior !

We have done our damage, we now have the power to undo and together, join hands and clean our beach for future generations. There is no more important issue we must focus on as humans! We must take action by now !

We want our beach to be beautiful and spotless!

We will definitely return here as we love the scenic view of  Thailand from Teluk Yu.

P/s : Special thanks to YB Dato Ir Nawawi Ahmad, Member Of Parliment Kuah, Langkawi who had been in communicating with me and local council to solve the above issue.

Fried Pomfret (シマガツオ科) In Chilli Sauce.

They say man makes delicious foods so the man cooks better than a woman !

But honestly, I think gender has nothing to do with who's cooking best or not but what matters is the skill and knowledge of the person. Classic example - my mother cooked better than my father ! For us in Asia, this is not an issue at all since its in the culture that woman cook and the man do the job for the family.

By the way, I love to cook and I consider myself really gifted with it.

These special menus (special request from my kids) are a perfect way to treat them and family.

 The Fish

• Cleaned and rinsed the Pomfret fish. Add in a little salt, tamarind powder and marinade the fish for 20 minutes. If the Pomfret is big or the flesh is thick, make sure to cut across the flesh till the bone so that it will cook faster.
• You may sprinkled cornflour (lightly dust) to the Pomfret (Optional).
• Deep fried the fish  in the wok for about 10-15 minutes and ensure not overcooked.
• Place the fried Pompret on large plate and get ready to cook the sauce.

The Sauce

• Heat the cooking oil.
• Add the garlic and ginger together (Wait till you smell the fragrant).
• Add in the sliced tomato,cucumber,chili and onion
• Add chili sauce together with lime juice.
• Stir-fry for few minutes.
• Now you may pour the chile sauce over the frieded Pompret and ready to serve with hot plain rice.  

By the way, this is the actual ingredients: 

• 1/2 kg Pomfret fish or Black Pomfret (シマガツオ科)
• 2 Tomoto (sliced)
• 4 cloves garlic
• 4 or 5 red chillis (to remove seeds)
• 2 cm ginger
• 1 small cucumber sliced
• 1 or 2 large onion (sliced)
• 2 pcs of lime (need the juice)
• Chili sauce
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons cooking oil

The Kappa Legend - Asian Horror.

I really love investigating the Asian legends and folklores. They make for good reading, if not for fantastic storytelling in my house by a loving father amusing his two daughter :) 

 Some well-known Japanese folktales and legends often involves humorous,bizarre characters or situations and also includes an assortment of supernatural beings -like these Kappa,  a water-based demon story.

The Kappa (Nothing to do with sportswear), from Japanese lore, is named after the famous river god, Kappa. They are the legendary creatures found in Japanese folklore and a creature known by every Japanese. Their scaly, reptilian skin ranges in color from green to yellow or blue.They been described  figure who is about two feet tall, covered with green, yellow, or blue scales from head to toe, and equipped with a tortoise shell on his back. Kappas supposedly inhabit the ponds and rivers of Japan and have various features to aid them in this environment, such as webbed hands and feet. They are sometimes said to smell like fish and they can certainly swim like them. In some tales, the Kappa is associated with theft, raping women and snatching little children into the water and drowning them.

There were a variety of stories attached to the kappa.They may even befriend human beings in exchange for gifts and offerings, especially cucumbers, the only food Kappa are known to enjoy more than human children. Japanese parents sometimes write the names of their children on cucumbers and toss them into waters believed to be infested with Kappa in order to mollify the creatures and allow the family to bathe. There is even a kind of cucumber-filled sushi roll named for the Kappa, the kappamaki.

As water monsters, kappa have been frequently blamed for drownings, and are often said to try to lure people to the water and pull them in with their great skill at wrestling. They are sometimes said to take their victims for the purpose of eating their livers or their shirikodama , a mythical ball inside the anus. There is a known phenomena that when a person dies a drowning death, their anus will often swell. The Japanese explained this as being caused the kappa.Even today, signs warning about kappa appear by bodies of water in some Japanese towns and villages. .

While modern Japanese people think that Kappa was the old legend, it could be that the Giant Japanese Salamander sometimes be mistaken as the mythical Kappa ?

Reference & Images: Google & Wikipedia

Langkawi Tukun Batik : Langkawi Best Kept Secret !

Catch-Em-All in Langkawi Island,Malaysia !

 From tarpoon,bonito,barracuda and all major gamefish.

I took this pictures one morning while half way heading out to my favorite fishing spot - Tukun Batik in Langkawi,  home to some excellent deep sea fishing.The journey by fishing boat is about 4 hours but you may be rewarded with the sighting of whale sharks, manta rays and dolphins !

A species infamous for having a set of jaws that put a crocodiles to shame!
Barracuda usually patrol the outer edges of some reefs and there are a few larger lone specimens too.I got 22 barracuda within half and hour jigging !!

Interested parties are welcomed to reproduce or quote materials published in this blog with the condition  that they are credited to http://hasnulyakin.blogspot.com/ to avoid misunderstanding.Thank you.

Naomi's First Video - Tokyo Disneyland Night Parade!

Well..well..well ! Despite her success in her chosen field (Hotelier) , Naomi saw her true calling in videography. She make her debut as a "director"  in this short video during our previous visit to Tokyo.Not bad, huh !  



Interested parties are welcomed to reproduce or quote materials published in this blog with the condition  that they are credited to http://hasnulyakin.blogspot.com/ to avoid misunderstanding.Thank you.

Temenggor Lake - Killer Fish in Malaysian Lake?

The middle range of Titiwangsa mountains is thought by many to be the greatest fishing grounds God ever created on earth.The scenery is gorgeous,so dont forget to take along your camera.View the river and waterfall flows that have poured these areas for thousand of years and you'll suddenly realize why it felt like you had landed on the "Indiana Jones" jungle area.Temenggor Lake is growing but this lake hasn't suffered from the urban sprawl of many cities nearby.

Do have full commitment to fishing over here.It simply needs to be witnessed to be experienced. By the way, Temenggor Lake also well known as the home to the giant killer fish - The "Snakehead" - Toman !!!!

8kg Snakehead.

Toman - Large in personality as well as physique. Described as "alien monsters" "the stuff of nightmares" and "something from a bad horror movie", they are said to eat human flesh and attack without provocation - "Jaws" for the new millennium !

Another Toman.

These fish proved to be the greatest predator in Temenggor Lake.In Florida (USA), they attack humans and pets as worse as crocodiles !

I'm planning on going back to Japan for another fishing trip with my Oto san early next year. I'm hopeful that I can enter a new fishing territory in more ways than one. Searching for the river monsters there are like no others anyone ever had encountered - from the devastating "Namazu," which Japanese legend says causes earthquakes, to a child-snatching killer called the "Kappa."  You should visit Japan to find out, uncover the truth behind these legends and the reality behind these horrific tale.

I will keep you posted once I am there :)

(Google Image)

The Japanese legend of “Namazu”- (Or Ōnamazu) is a giant catfish who causes earthquakes.He lives in the mud beneath the earth, and is guarded by the god Kashima who restrains the catfish with a stone. When Kashima lets his guard fall, Namazu thrashes about, causing violent earthquakes.

Interested parties are welcomed to reproduce or quote materials published in this blog with the condition  that they are credited to http://hasnulyakin.blogspot.com/ to avoid misunderstanding.Thank you.

Thank You AirAsia !

Promosi Terbaru AirAsia

Alhamdulillah ! Akhirnya , AirAsia X mengumumkan penerbangan masuk ke Osaka,Jepun 4 kali seminggu mulai 30th November 2011. Ini adalah merupakan laluan ke 16 AirAsia X selain ke UK,Australia,Taiwan,China,Iran,France, New Zealand, India dan Tokyo. Lebih mengembirakan lagi apabila diumumkan yang pesawat AirAsia ini dibenarkan mendarat di lapangan terbang Kansai dan ini bermaksud saya hanya memerlukan satu jam perjalanan untuk sampai ke rumah di Kyoto!

Terima Kasih Tan Sri Tony Fernandes - CEO AirAsia Berhad ! Saya kini tidak perlu lagi membazirkan duit tiket penerbangan saya yang kadang-kadang mencecah RM10,000 untuk pulang ke Kyoto kerana AirAsia menawarkan harga serendah RM4,200 ( dua hala) untuk kami sekeluarga.

 Odaiba City,Tokyo Japan 

Naomi impikan penerbangan terus dari Kuala Lumpur ke Haneda,Tokyo sebelum mengambil "Shinkasen" menuju pulang ke Kyoto. Besar kemungkinan kami memilih penerbangan pulang dari Kansai ke Kuala Lumpur !

Odaiba City,Tokyo Japan 

Buat One Chan dan Oni San , kami sekeluarga amat rindukan anda berdua. Tunggulah kepulangan kami semula pada pertengahan bulan March nanti atau pun penghujung tahun hadapan.

Hiroshima Genbaku Dome ( Google image)

Errrr.....dan saya dan Naomi bercita cita untuk sampai ke Hiroshima tahun depan :) !

The Day After Trinity: The Clock Stopped At 11:02 AM

"I have decided to reposting this entry (previously in my Samuraiblues.com blog) and dedicate to the memory of those who perished when atomic bombs fell on Hiroshima and Nagasaki half a century ago. May all the souls rest in peace".

August 9, 1945- At 9:44 a.m., "Bockscar", a B-29 Superfortress bomber carrying "Fat Man", the world’s third atomic bomb, arrives at its primary target, Kokura. The city is covered in haze and smoke from an American bombing raid on a nearby city. "Bockscar" turns to its secondary target Nagasaki. At 11:02 a.m. the world’s third atomic bomb explosion devastates Nagasaki, the intense heat and blast indiscriminately slaughters its inhabitants. President Truman speaks to the American people via radio broadcast. He states: 

"The world will note that the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, a military base. That was because we wished in the first instance to avoid, in so far as possible, the killing of civilians.Hiroshima and Nagasaki were chosen as targets because of their concentration of activities and population."  More than 95 percent of those killed at Hiroshima and Nagasaki were civilians and Soviet Union begins its offensive against Japan in Manchuria.

The clock stopped at 11:02 a.m., the moment the world's third atomic bomb, "Fat Man" is detonated above Nagasaki, Japan.

August 10,1945.The U.S. drops warning leaflets on Nagasaki on the day after the bombing.

August 13 - 14, 1945.Japanese physicists, investigating the epicenter of the Hiroshima bomb burst, start noticing high levels of radioactivity.

August 14,1945. Japan surrenders.
 
August 15,1945.Emperor Hirohito of Japan, in a radio broadcast to his nation, announces that Japan has lost the war. The Emperor’s announcement is hard to understand because he speaks in archaic court Japanese, but one fact is understood:

"Moreover, the enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb, the power of which to damage is indeed incalculable, taking the toll of many innocent lives." The New York Times reports, "Russia’s entry into the Japanese war was the decisive factor in speeding its end and would have been so, even if no atomic bombs had been dropped, is the opinion of Major-General Claire Chennault .."

September 2,1945. Japan formally signs documents of surrender.

Nagasaki - 66 years after the bombing

Souces:Nuclearfile.com
Images - Full Credit to Yahoo & Google images.